The Ehattesaht First Nation says a killer whale calf that had been trapped in a remote Vancouver Island lagoon for more than a month is now free after it swam out on its own early Friday morning.
The nation said kʷiisaḥiʔis, or Brave Little Hunter, swam over the sandbar and out into open water during high tide around 2:30 a.m. PT.
After a long night of feeding kʷiisaḥiʔis and watching the calf play in the lagoon, the nation said, a small group “stood as witnesses to watch her swim under the bridge and down the inlet.”
“Today the community of Zeballos and people everywhere are waking up to some incredible news and what can only be described as pride for the strength this little orca has shown,” said Chief Simon John in a release.
The two-year-old female transient killer whale had been stuck in the tidal lagoon near the village of Zeballos, B.C., since March 23, when its pregnant mother became trapped at low tide and died on a rocky beach.
For weeks, First Nation members, DFO marine mammal experts, whale scientists and boat and machine operators gathered in the small community of about 200 people to plan how to free the calf.
Those discussions resulted in multiple rescue missions — all of them unsuccessful. Rescuers attempted to catch the orca and transport it by sling; they used recorded killer whale vocalizations to coax it out of the lagoon; around 10 boats attempted to herd the orca by using oikomi pipes to create a loud noise underwater; and a violinist even tried to serenade the calf to freedom.
But in the end, kʷiisaḥiʔis was her own saviour.
A killer whale and its calf are shown in a lagoon near Zeballos, B.C. in a handout photo. (Jared Towers/Bay Cetology/The Canadian Press)
Connecting calf with family
After kʷiisaḥiʔis swam free, John says the calf was later seen in Espinosa Inlet and a team followed it as she moved toward Esperanza Inlet and the open ocean.
The team, which includes members of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Marine Mammal Response and Bay Cetology, is hopeful that once the calf is in the ocean, its calls will be heard by its family.
John says officials and nation members are now putting protective measures in place to ensure there is no contact between kʷiisaḥiʔis and other people or boats.
They have asked the public to stay away from the area.
“With this part of the challenge solved by kʷiisaḥiʔis herself, every opportunity needs to be afforded to have her back with her family with as little human interaction as possible,” he said.
Calf’s mother couldn’t be saved
While this chapter of kʷiisaḥiʔis’ life has ended on a high note, it began with a tragedy.
Back in March, its 15-year-old mother became beached in the lagoon.
Video of the incident shows dozens of people trying to save the stranded orca, but it died.
A Bigg’s killer whale that died after being beached off north Vancouver Island was pregnant, according to a necropsy. (Submitted by Florence Bruce)
A necropsy later confirmed the mother was pregnant with another calf.
As the weeks continued and the rescues failed, there were concerns over the wellbeing of kʷiisaḥiʔis and whether the calf was getting enough food and fresh water.
The orca was examined by experts and veterinarian staff from the Vancouver Aquarium who said in mid-April that it appeared to be in good health and was swimming well.
Last week, the calf also ate seal meat for what was believed to be the first time, after members of the neighbouring Nuchatlaht First Nation tossed about 18 kilograms of seal meat into the water.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
